This editorial is in regard to the story about I-405 expansion through the Talbot Hill neighborhood. Click here to read Part 1 and Part 2 of the story.

Rarely do you see an injustice hit so close to home – literally.

But think about Richard and Lori Randquist Chung. They found the home of their dreams, at a price they could afford, for themselves and their three kids,  Christian, Ariana, Moriah, on Talbot Hill.

They saw the closeness of Interstate 405 as an advantage.

Now I-405 is what’s going to force them from their home.  The state is building a new interchange, with a flyover, at that awful meeting of 405 and State Route 167. The plan has been studied for years. Now it’s a reality and it’s a shame that  the Randquist Chung family wasn’t at least given a heads-up that a freeway  was headed their way.

They have little recourse now, other than to find a new home. But those who had a hand in the planning, permitting, building and selling of their home and at least one other in the new development need to think long and hard about what they should have done differently to protect them from such an outcome.

Certainly we need to improve our freeways in the region. And those improvements are going to impact people and their homes and businesses and their fortunes.

The sad story of Richard and Lori  and their kids is a reminder we need to move openly as we develop our region.